Welding mechanism



July 10, 1945. A, u s 2,379,983

WELDING MEGHANI SM Filed Nov. 8, 1943 INVENTOR. flZemn-azs'f J. Marya/2.

BY M2M'%mi w.

Patented July 10, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WELDING MECHANISM Alexander L. Munson, Detroit, Mich.

Application November 8, 1943, Serial No. "9,390

7 Claims.

The present invention relates to welding apparatus and in particular provides an improved knock-out type electrode assembly.

The principal objects of the invention are to provide an electrode assembly comprising a welding point, a holder 'therefor through which coo1 ant may be supplied to the electrode, and further comprising a combined knock-out and 'coolant flow controlling element which is operable to close off the coolant lines to the holder and to remove the electrode; to provide such an assembly wherein said element is movable axially of the holder to knock-out the electrode and is rotatable relative to the holder to control the coolant passages; and to provide such arrangements which are simple in construction, economical in manufacture and assembly, and eflicient and reliable in operation.

With the above, as well as other and more detailed objects in view, which appear in th'e following description and the appended claims, preferred but illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawing, throughout the several views of which corresponding reference characters are used to desi nate corresponding parts, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an outline view oi an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal central section of the assembly shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view. in horizontal section, taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a view in horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 of Fig 2; and

Fig. 51s a view corresponding to Fig. 1 but showing a different arrangement of the elements.

Referring first to Figs. 1 through 4, the illustrated assembly comprises an electrode or welding point' l0 which is conventionally received within the tapered bore provided at the lower end of an associated sleeve-like holder l2. In accordance with conventional practice the holder 12 is supported on an arm M which may be associated with the frame structure of a conventional spot welding machine. The welding point l0 may be variously constructed but is illustrated as having a body l6 and a, cap l8. The end of the cap I8 is suitably shaped to suit the particular welding duty, as will be understood, and is provided with a plurality of coolant receiving recesses 20 which are separated by ribs or fins 22. A central column 24 common to all of the recesses 20 rises from the center of the cap l8. The body I6 is provided with an upper bore portion 26, and a lower bore portion which receives a fluted insert 3| having radial projections 28 which, with the bore wall, define a plurality of circumferentially distributed outer passages 33. The insert 3| has a central bore 30. The passages 33 may correspond in number and spacing to the recesses 20 and are aligned therewith.

The holder I2 is provide with a cylindrical bore 32 which slidably and rotatably receives the knock-out and coolant control member 34. The member 34 is provided with a bore 36, which communicates with a coolant outlet 38 and which also has a reduced portion 40 which receives the upper end of a usual deflector tube 42. The upper end of the deflector tube 42 opens into the upper end 44 of the reduced bore portion 40, which portion communicates with the coolant inlet 45. In the normal or operating position of the member 34 the inlet 46 and the outlet 38 are rotatably aligned with corresponding inlet and outlet openings 48 and 50 provided in the wall of the holder l2. As shown, openings 48 and 50 are threaded, so as to accommodate the usual coolant lines 52 and 54.

The lower end of the member 34, normally abuts the upper end 56 of the welding point In and in this position of the parts the lower end of the deflector tube projects part way through the central bore portion 30 associated with the welding point. With this arrangement it will be appreciated that coolant introduced'through the inlets 4i and 48 flows downwardly through the deflector tube 42 from whence it passes through the bore 30 and is distributed to the individual recesses 20 in the cap Hi. The thus distributed coolant flows outwardly through the circumferentially spaced passages 33, all of which open into the annular space 58 which surrounds the deflector tube 42. The coolant is discharged through the outlets 38 and 50.

The welding point ID has a drive fit within the tapered bore of the holder l2 and consequently leakage between these elements does not occur. Member 34 may be somewhat loosely received within the bore 32, and consequently, to prevent leakage at the upper end of the holder a usual packing gland 60 is held in place by the threaded nut 62.

The upper and reduced end 64 of the member 34 projects above the upper end of the holder l2 and is provided with a head 66. It is to be understood that the head 66 is formed to accommodate a blow from a hammer or other tool needed to drive the member 34 downwardly .through the body of the holder l2, which action forces the welding point I!) out of the tapered bore of the holder l2. Preferably and as illustrated the head ll is provided with an operating handle it by which it may be rotated so as to bring the respective inlets and outlets out of alignment with each other, it being understood that such a rotative movement is made before driving the member 84 downwardly,

Fig. 5 illustrates the adaptability of th present arrangement to diflerent operating conditions. In this figure the coolant lines are introduced to the holder near the top thereof so that the coolant acts upon substantially the entire length of the holder. In Fig. 1 it will be noted that the coolant lines are introduced at a lower point, so that the cooling action is con fined to a smaller part of the holder i2.

Although only a singlespeciilc embodiment of the invention has been described in detail it will be appreciated that various modifications in form, number and arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a work engaging element, a holder therefor having passages through which coolant may be supplied to the element, and a control member movably associated with said 'holder, said member being movable to forcibly separate the element from the holder and to control the effectiveness of at least certain of said coolant passages.

2. In combination, a work engaging element, a holder therefor having passages through which coolant may be supplied to the element, a valve member for controlling the eitectiveness of at least certain of said passages, and means enabling said valve member to be moved relative to the holder so as to forcibly separate the element from the holder.

3. In combination, a work engaging element, a holder for supportingthe element having passages through which coolant may be supplied to the element, a valve member supported by the holder for rotative and bodily movement, means enabling said rotative movement of the valve certain of said passages, and means enabling said arate the element from the holder.

aavaesa 5. In combination, a work engaging element having in-fiow and out-flow coolant passages, a

holder for the element havinga central bore, a

valve member slidabl and rotatably received in the bore, said valve member having inlet and outlet passages which communicate with the aforesaid passages in the element, said holder having in-ilow and out-flow passages which normally communicate with the passages in the member, rotation of the member relative to th holder servingto bring the correspondingpassages into or out of registry, and axial movement of the member relative to the holder serving to forcibly separate the element from the holder.

6. In combination, a holder for a work engaging element, said holder having a bore in which a said 'element'may be received, and having passages through which coolant may be supplied through the holder to cool the element, and a control member movably associated with said holder, said control member being movabl to forcibly separate a said element from the holder and tocontrol the effectiveness of at least certain of said coolant passages.

7. In combination, a holder for a work engaging element, said holder having a bore in which a said element may b received, and having passages through which coolant may be supplied through the holder to cool the element, a valve member supported by the holder for rotation and bodily movement with respect thereto, means enabling said rotative movement to control the effectiveness of at least certain of said passages,

5 and means enabling said bodily movement of the member to control the cifectiveness of at least valve member to forcibly separate a said element from the holder. ALEXANDER L. MUNSON. 

